Feast of St John Ogilvie – Is 50:5-9; 1 Cor 1:3-7; John 12:24-26
The Church is really just a community of folks following Christ, right? Jesus, that remarkable seed, had to die so He could bloom into the beautiful gift of salvation. To truly follow Him means living a life full of love, reaching out to the world around us.
Take Saint John Ogilvie, for example. Born on 10 March 1615, this Jesuit priest trained in Paris before heading back to Scotland. His journey took a tragic turn when he was betrayed and captured in Glasgow. Despite suffering torture and ultimately martyrdom, he stood firm in his faith, refusing to abandon his belief in the Pope’s authority. His final words reflected his unwavering spirit: “If there are any hidden Catholics, let them pray for me, but the prayers of heretics I will not have.” In a beautiful act of defiance, he tossed a concealed rosary into the crowd, which inspired one of his enemies to become a devoted Catholic.
Living authentically often means giving ourselves to others. Sure, it can feel risky and even a bit scary, but it’s also where we discover true happiness. It’s a bit like that seed from the Gospel – if we stay isolated, we miss out on so much. When we become a gift to others, we’re aligned with Jesus and we bring joy to our Heavenly Father.
So, let’s embrace this journey together. Jesus, Your life is pure gift, and I want to share that same spirit of giving with everyone around me.
